Gas-line stopper



March 5, 1929- F. c. ARMBRUSTER 1,704,161 GAS LINE 'STOPP-ER Filed July8, 1926 Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

no stars 3 m w oruicn;

GAS-LINE STOPPER.

Application filed July 8,

This invention relates to methods means tor making a partition or sealina .1 p or conduit in order to separate one portion of the 1 pc fromanother or stop or prevent the flow of fluid from one portion to theother. The invention has particular apglicntion in the case zras iipesor gas mains.

It is otten necesr ry when inaki i repairs in a pipe or main or forother 1' isons to segregate one portion of the line from the other andto stop the ilow ot lluid into the isolated portion of the pipe. Aprimary object of my invention is to provide methods and means by whichthis may he accomplished.

It is a. precarious and diiiicult ope 'ation to eliect a stoppage of theflow of fluid with any of the ex' ting devices intended for thispurpose.particularlyin the case olthe la r sizes of pipe, or when'thereis'any considerable pressure'in the 'line or when the gases in the lineare of poisonous nature. It is an'ohject of my invention to provide foreffecting; aclosure or seal in the line that edap to functionsatisfactorily even with the larger sizes oi pipe, under high pressuresand with poisonous gases. 'llhepractice of my invention provides aclosure in the line of suehnature that the 'ilowol' fluid iscompletely-stopped even though such fluid may be under high pressure.

A further object of my invention is toprovide means adapted for readilyforming partitions or closures in lines that is relatively inexpensive,that is substantial in nature and positive in actioin compact and easyto manipulate.

Broadly and generally my inventioncontemplates winding a tape upon areel within the pipe or conduit, to form a roll that 'forum a partitionin the pipe or conduit. A strip of sealing; material is drawn into thepipe and,

pen be I eeled inside the pipe prmluces a roll that in reeling isenlarged or expainled until contact is made with the periphery oi? thepipe and a sealing partition thus formed.

One aspect oi the invention. consists in the provision of a tubularn'ieinber capable of being inserted through a hole made in the pipe orline and carrying a reel or spool. In practicing the invention thetubular member is inserted in a hole in the pipe or conduit and the tapeor strip of sealing material is wound upon the reel to term the sealingroll.

In order to more completely disclose the invention reference Will now behad to the 1926. Serial no. 121,221;

accompanying drawings which"illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention as applied to a gas main wherein i Figure 1 isa sectonalelevation of apparatus construeted in accordance with the in-. ventionand constituting" an embodiment thereof." This view shows the'tape rollas only partially wound on' he reel.f

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal section alsosho ingthe tape rollpartially wound on the reel.

Figure his a plan view'with *a portion broken away illustrating the taperoll as completelyywonnd' onthe ree to form a partition or closurewithin the pipe;

l iogui is detail sectiontalten onthe lino 4i;-el of Figui'efl. I i

lfn the drawi ngs represents the main or conduit 11' which it isdesiredto provide thesealini; partition; Inpra'cticing the invention-a h oleisdrilled in-tlie line suitable to accommodate a member 11 which'carriesthe reel mechanisi'n and which is inserted within the pipe." The member11 is preferably of tuhularor cylindrical form with the outer end solidand with the inner portion, which is inserted wit iin the pipe-10, ofhollow formotion:

A reel 12 is suitably mounted inthe tubular member 11 and it ispreterahle to soarrangzc the position of'thei'reel that it will hesuhstantially'co-a iiial' with the npipe lllm A tape or sealing-strip 13is arrangedto he wound'on the reel 12. lhe head or solid portion of themember 11 is provided with a slot 141- to permit the passage of the tapeor ribbon 13 through the head and the hollow portion is formed withslots 11 to permit the tape 13 to be wound on the reel to thus expand aroll of tape against the periphery of the pipe 10.

The member 11'is shown formed with a groove in which is mounted apacking ring i 1-, and a threaded washer 15 is provider, so as to form acompression joint. to prevent leakage of fluid. A nut 15 is providedwith a slot or opening 15" for the tape 13.

A crank is provided for operating the reel 12'. The stem oi the crankextends through holes in the nut 15 and in the head of the tubularmember. 11 and is suitably geared to the reel 12, as by means of a wormgear 16 at the end of the stem meshing with a spur gear 17 on the reel12.

A supply reel 18 is provided upon which is wound the tape to befurnished to the reel 12. The supply reel is shown mounted upon means 12with concave periphery, in order that the resultant periphery of theroll of ta e thereon will be somewhat concave in 'i'Olll'l as clearlyshown in the dr: rings. By havii the roll of tape ot more or less concae pcriphery the outer edges only of the tape conic in contact with tooinside oeriineter ox? the I pipe. It is thus possible to wind the tapetightly against the pipe witl less resistance between the rlibbing edgesthan when the whole surface of the ape is pressed against the pipe, andthe two p Q My wound against the pipe term, i believe, a more securejoint than can conveniently be made by usl the entire width of the tapewhich may not so readily be pressed as tightly against the pipe as thethinner edges. Moreover, there is a tendency for the pressure fluid tocurl the outer edge of the tape which facilitates the making of a tightjoint. While it is thus satisfactory to term the seal with a narrow lineof Contact between the tape and pipe it is to be understood that theinvention is not by any means limited to this particular arrangement.

Obviously many modifications and Variations of the invention, ashereinbetore set forth, may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof, and therefore,

only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is: 1. The method of forming a sealing partition in a pipewhich comprises winding a tape upon a reel therein.

2. The method of forming a sealing partition in a pipe which comprisesdrawing into the pipe a strip of sealing material and reelsaid striptherein to produce a roll forming a partition in the pipe.

3. The method of forming a sealing partition in a pipe which comprisesdrawing into the pipe a strip of sealing material and reelit therein ona reel substantially coaxial with that oi the pipe.

4-. The method of forming a sealing partition in apipe which comprisesforming a roll or sealing material within said pipe and enl 'r expandingsaid roll, by reeling, comes in contact with the inner pcllj her-y ofthe pipe.

A gas line stopper comprising a ree means adapted to mount the reel inthe line an d a tape arranged to be wound on said reel.

. p it Ii line stopper comprising a tubular member adapted to beinserted tnrough an open in the line, a reel mounted in said tubularmember and a tape arranged to be wound on said reel.

7. A gas line stopper comprising a tubular member at apted to beinserted through an opening in the line, a reel mounted in said tubularinem zer, a tape arranged to be wound on said reel and means foroperating said reel adapted to be actuated exteriorly of the line. 0. iiline stopper comprising a tubular member adapted to be inserted throughan openin in the line, receiving reel mounted said tubular member, asupply reel, and a tape arranger. to be reeled from said supply reel tosaid receiving reel.

9. In combination with a conduit formed with an opening, a memberinserted within said opening, a reel mounted in said member and a tapearranged on said reel as a seal.

EREBERIQK CHARLES ARMERUSTEH.

